WIFE

 “The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Wisely

Interceding 

Fiercely 

Extravagant 

    The cultural significance of home and family cannot fully be addressed, understood, and applied without defining, exploring and putting into practice the god given roles of husbands and wives. We are in a critical situation because we redefine or ignore God’s design. Right now our minds are all swimming in the sea of possible directions this message could go. Some of us have checked out thinking, “Here we go again!” Others are sitting on the edge of our seats with expectation thinking, “Preach it!” Let’s all just take a moment, set those thoughts aside, and allow Scripture to speak.

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:16-19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Marriage and family are a gift from the Lord. Women and men are opposite halves of the same coin. It requires both in submission to God and each other to make the relationship work. There is enough external pressure to crush the relationship. Unity from within is what is needed for the relationship to flourish and survive.

““Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:4-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Perception is a contributing factor to the breakdown of marriages. We do not see ourselves in the roles God has given us. Husbands neglect their roles and wives abandon theirs. Nothing works without prayer and intercession.

“Lord, you poured out blessings on your land! You restored the fortunes of Israel. You forgave the guilt of your people— yes, you covered all their sins.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭85:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Women and men have differing gifts. These gifts are complementary not combative, and have the potential to form a bond that cannot be broken. But, when these gifts are misused, forced out of balance or ignored they leave an undeniable wake of destruction. To harness the synergy of these gifts, we need to identify the real enemy. 

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Husbands, to discover the treasure within your wife, show her the love that Christ has shown you. Give her the freedom to wisely intercede and be fiercely extravagant in her role. The women of Proverbs 31 can be the wife God has allowed you to find.

“Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:10-12, 25-27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

GIFTS

 “They distributed the gifts to all males three years old or older, regardless of their place in the genealogical records. The distribution went to all who would come to the Lord’s Temple to perform their daily duties according to their divisions. They distributed gifts to the priests who were listed by their families in the genealogical records, and to the Levites twenty years old or older who were listed according to their jobs and their divisions.” ‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭31:16-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Generational

Impartations

Fulfilling 

Traditional 

Servanthood

    We believe God called and equipped His servants from the beginning, but do we believe He is still giving generational gifts? Is God still calling families into specific areas of ministry? Experiencing giftedness in ministry, or believing that only certain people are called brings us into the dangerous territory of neglect. Yes, God works through families. Yes, He calls and supplies gifts for service, but being called is not an exclusive, members only club. God’s power is given to individuals when they recognize and answer His call by stepping out in faith.

“Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.” ‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:11-12, 14-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Gifts are specific to the person and to the task. We can only use the gifts we are given. In my lifetime I’ve seen spiritual gifts abused, misused, and often misunderstood. Most of these problems have been the result of people not honoring their gift and trying to manipulate the gifts given to others. We are all human. We all see how God uses others and, at times, wish we could do what they do; but God chooses our gifts. They are all meant to work in harmony through the power of His love.

“But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.” In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.” 2 Timothy‬ ‭2:19-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    The value of the gifts we have is not something to be measured, or treasured by us. The value of any gift is in its usefulness. God grants us the abilities to employ the right gift at the proper time fulfilling His glorious outcome.

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:4, 6-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    In our world there are several charged words. Words that carry a negative flavor no matter how they are used. Personal politics and cultural agendas have overtaken common sense and dignity. Traditional seems to be one of those words, but tradition is not bad. Rituals are not evil. Setting up common practices in worship either draws us closer to God or drives us away from Him. The deciding factor is in the application. God is the author of order, yet He is also the source of creativity. We simply need balance in the way we serve and honor Him.

“For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” ‭‭John‬ ‭4:24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:39-40‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    The question we face on a daily basis is, “Who is being served - God or ourselves?” Servanthood should be the goal every time we use our gifts. Have you ever been to church and everything was “fine” but you left feeling empty - somehow unsatisfied? The worship team was balanced and well rehearsed. The preaching was good sound doctrine. The congregation was friendly. Still, something was missing. Did you use your gifts?

FAMILY

 “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Familiar

Affectionate

Moments

Inspiring 

Loyal

Yokefellows

Today’s culture, morality, sense of right and wrong is a stark contrast to familiar memories of my childhood. We have created for ourselves a world without respect, without truth, and without God.

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There have always been problems. Evil is a reality, but it can be, and for some has already been, overcome! Families aren’t perfect. Families are created by God to demonstrate His sufficiency, grace, forgiveness, and love.

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:9-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Time is a limited commodity. We only have a few years as children, a few more as parents, and fewer still as grandparents. Enjoy the moments we have. Be examples of grace, mercy, forgiveness, love, and a source of healing while there is time. Make the most of the moments we have.

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:15-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The only way to create lasting influence on today’s culture is to rebuild the Christian family. A Hollywood version, or some idea of family that comes out of mainstream media will never inspire the Godly lifestyle that can reach beyond generational roadblocks and clear the path to salvation.

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:23-25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Familiar, Affectionate, Moments, Inspiring, Loyal, Yokefellows - family when it is patterned according to God’s design draws people into it. God calls us into His family and desires our loyalty in worship. He assigns us to the task of inspiring loyalty in others. Families carry the yoke together, working toward a common goal. That goal is sharing the gift of life in Christ.

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Can we make our homes, churches, schools, and businesses a family? Only when we put God at the center!

HOME

 “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” ‭‭James‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Honesty

Optimism

Mercy

Encouragement 

What makes a place home?

    There’s an old saying, “Only love can make a house a home.” Family living together in a shared space? The place we feel the most comfortable. The place we can be ourselves. Home - the place where secrets are nonexistent, challenges are met with optimism, failure is overcome by mercy, and dreams are encouraged.

    Think about that picture of a home for a moment: Home - the place where secrets are nonexistent, challenges are met with optimism, failure is overcome by mercy, and dreams are encouraged. If that wasn’t the home you grew up in, why not? If that wasn’t the home you grew up in, would you have liked to?

“The Lord curses the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the upright.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15:31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    God loves us. He desires the best for us and He will fill our lives with blessing if we have the courage to be honest with Him, ourselves and others. Home is the place we first experience the benefit and blessing of honesty. I don’t know about the home you grew up in, but the home I grew up in, the home I remember was filled with the wisdom and word of God.

“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Honesty and optimism might seem like conflicting concepts. How can we be completely honest and optimistic at the same time? After all honesty is harsh, unbending, and brutal. Optimism, on the other hand, is cheerful, upbeat, sunshine and roses in spite of the rain. They cannot coexist in the mindset of this world. However, the Christian mindset finds their balance in love.

“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Love is optimistic. We learn to balance truth and love, reality and optimism as we grow in the likeness of Christ. 

“Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:14-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    The building blocks of a strong home are honesty, optimism, mercy, and encouragement. If these elements are not found in our homes, our families will crumble under the weight of life’s pressures. Without mercy there is no redemption. It was the mercy of God that brought us back into relationship with Him. It was our honest recognition of our sin that started us on our journey of faith; but, it is all rooted in the love God has for us. 

“The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Mercy is what we offer our family to help overcome the past. Forgiveness, grace, and mercy are the cords that bind us together as a family. All of us have failed in some form or another. We would all fall beneath the load of our sin. But, God at just the right time showed mercy toward us. Because of His mercy we can give encouragement to each other.

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:23-25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    We say that we are the family of God, but what do our homes demonstrate? Are the churches we congregate in places that make people feel at home? Do we still believe, “softly and tenderly Jesus is calling…Calling oh sinner come home.”

LIGHT

“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.”Isaiah‬ ‭60:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    We are the reflection of the light of Christ. He is the light that brings the world out of darkness, depression, and disgrace. Isaiah was speaking of more than the capital city of Israel. Jerusalem is the representation if the redeemed. Every life that surrenders to the Lordship of Christ has the potential to be filled with His light.

    The presence of the Holy Spirit fills us with joy, heals our depression, overcomes the disgrace resulting from sin and removes the darkness from our souls. God takes action on our behalf. Benjamin Franklin said, “The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see, that God intervenes in the affairs of man!” 

    That intervention is lasting. God is eternal. His mercies are new every morning and never come to an end. Nothing can come between us and the love of God. We make choices that allow our focus to drift away from God, but he never abandons us.

Lasting - “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” Romans‬ ‭8:38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    The light of salvation is ours. We should focus our attention on eternity and spend our energy on sharing the revelation that God is living and active in every area of our existence. We cannot escape His presence. We cannot go beyond His influence. He will be our constant redeemer. Shaping our lives for His glory. Let that light brighten the path of those around us.

Intervention - “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.” Psalms‬ ‭139:7-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    My life has been marked by a series of mistakes. I have clumsily fallen more times than I can count, but depending upon God’s forgiveness has allowed me to become graceful. God fills us with grace when we follow His plan for our lives. Words from an old song are ringing in my thoughts today, “It is no secret what God can do. What He’s done for others He’ll do for you.”

    God is making each of us graceful. He is picking up, repairing and replacing our past failures, working with every detail making His glory known. He is gracefully healing us, shining  His light into the dark places of this world. We are gracefully answer His call. Becoming the positive change we are waiting to experience is our goal.

Gracefully - “But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:17-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Enduring the difficulties of life becomes less of a burden when we recognize that God is standing with us. We are standing in His strength, not our own. God is faithful! He will deliver us and bring us to safety. He is actively healing every transgression, sin and disease. Salvation in the result of the light of Christ within us. God will bring the wanderers back. They just need the light to brighten the path.

Healing - “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.” James‬ ‭5:13-15, 19-20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Many of us have lived through traumatic experiences. We have been “left for dead” but God has offered us a more glorious plan. He has sent into our lives messengers of healing. We just needed someone willing to “leave the light on.”

Trauma - “Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.” Luke‬ ‭10:30-34, 36‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Are you willing to let your light shine?

Lasting 

Intervention

Gracefully

Healing

Trauma

TRAPPED

“If thou prepare thine heart, And stretch out thine hands toward him; If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, And let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: Because thou shalt forget thy misery, And remember it as waters that pass away: And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; Thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; Yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.” Job‬ ‭11:13-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

TRAPPED

    August first, 2021 the church Michele and I were Pastoring was closed by the SoCalNetwork. Honestly I’ve spent the past two months feeling a range of emotions that drew me deeper and deeper into what can only be described as aimlessness. I felt completely and utterly trapped. This was not the first time I’ve been devastated, blindsided, or hurt in ministry, but it was the first time I felt devalued and unwanted.

    Somewhere about the middle of September, I was asked, “Do you feel that your anointing has been removed, or you have somehow lost the mantle of ministry?”

“And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, And shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, When I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.” Romans‬ ‭11:26-31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

    The ministry organization I affiliated myself under has always been a “voluntary cooperative fellowship”. They do not bestow the mantle of ministry nor do they supply the anointing. Their function is to recognize and confirm the calling God has placed upon my life. They cannot take away what they did not give. Yet, even with that knowledge I wandered in aimlessness and depression for what has been nearly two months. If you’ve been wounded, walked through even a moment of life feeling trapped I offer this alternative. Redesign your thinking and allow God to transform the trap into the destination He has planned for you.

Temporary - “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm‬ ‭30:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Restructuring - “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.” Galatians‬ ‭2:17-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Avoiding - “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Personal - “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” 2 Peter‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Pain - “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation‬ ‭21:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Elaborate - “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Destinations - “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John‬ ‭14:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

    Life is too short to get caught up in all the negative aspects of decisions, actions, and outcomes that are clearly outside of our control. Everything is temporary. Allowing God the opportunity to change our focus and restructure our lives according to His will opens new and untapped blessings. We simply need to examine our lives and keep ourselves free from sin. Avoiding evil in all its many forms and staying clear of its appearance is impossible without the intervention of the Holy Spirit.

    We are in a very personal relationship with Christ. He has called us and equipped us for ministry. We  are commanded to keep making the effort to live up to the potential of our calling. God has given all of us the talents to complete each task. His word offers us instruction, encouragement and strength to be and do whatever functions we fill within society. You are where you are, I am where I am to give God glory. He will take care of the pain along the way! He is taking us to the elaborate destination He has prepared for us.

"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him." Isaiah 64:4 (KJV)

WISE

Proverbs 3:7 “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” (KJV)

WISE

Washed -- Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed                         by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)

Inspired -- 2 Peter 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:               but holy men of  God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

Sensitive -- Proverbs 16:21 “The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the         lips  increaseth learning.” (KJV)

Engaging -- 1 Corinthians 2:4 “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of       man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:” (KJV)

            Everyone has an opinion! Anyone will freely offer unsolicited advice! Someone thinks he understands; but, No One is asking God for His wisdom.

            As the Christmas season has now begun, and actually has been in full swing since Halloween, we effectively skipped Thanksgiving! Our celebration of that holiday has morphed into an exercise in gluttony.  I am struck with the thought, “We as a society have replaced appreciation and thankfulness with greed and self-importance.” This world is lacking God’s Wisdom and we have become puffed up with knowledge instead on being built up in love.

            According to the Psalmist, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…”, so the invitation is graciously extended. Today join me on the journey to become wise. We can be renewed by the washing of God’s word through our minds. We will be inspired as His Spirit moves among us in a fresh outpouring of Pentecostal Power. Sensitivity to the needs of others develops as we respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit, our ministry one to another is engaging as the manifestations of the power of God are demonstrated by His LOVE at work in us.

Be WISE! 

Washed
Inspired
Sensitive
Engaging

Ready or Not Christ is Coming Again

Acts 1:11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (NASB)

            Christ established His church upon the revelation that He was, is, and always shall be, the Messiah. He is the deliverer of all who put their trust in Him. The church has been Christ’s ambassadors on Earth for centuries, and yet, we have continually focused our attention on the wrong question. We have been asking, “When will Christ return and take us into Glory?”

            Our focus should be, “Are we ready for His return?”

            Because I believe the return of Christ is imminent, the focus of my messages for the near future will reflect the theme READY or NOT. Jesus promised when the “Son of Man” comes He will bring justice, but He questioned the presence of FAITH when He returned.  It is past time that we stop asking “When will Christ return?” and start asking, “Are we ready for His return?”

            READY or NOT Christ is coming again! The first step in being READY is living a repentant life-style.

Repentant – Psalm 51:16-18 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. (KJV)

            To be ready for the return of Christ we must humble ourselves. God is more concerned with the condition of our hearts than in the abundance of our offerings. He will openly receive us when our hearts are broken over the same things His heart is broken over. God’s desire is that ALL would turn to Him and accept the Gift of salvation through Christ. When we recognize our wickedness and turn away from our desires God will create in us a desire to seek and serve Him.

Excited – Acts 15:2-4 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

            Disagreements and arguments are not a 21^st century arrival within the church. People can always find issues to divide us. However, if we are living a repentant life-style, excitement about all that God is doing in and through us breaks down the dividing walls we construct. Being enthusiastic about the life changing power of God unifies us. Repentance and excitement propel us into the realm of servanthood. Step one, be repentant! Step two, get excited about what God is doing! Step three, make yourself available!

Available – 1 Samuel 3:7-9 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. (KJV)

                        Isaiah 6:4-9 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. (KJV)

            These two examples demonstrate the willingness of God to use those who make themselves available to Him. Samuel was an answer to prayer for his mother. Out of obedience she gave him back to the Lord to serve in the temple. Even before he knew the Lord God called him. He answer the call.

            Isaiah had an unmistakable experience in the presence of the Lord. He (Isaiah) recognized his inability to stand up to God’s holy standard, and yet he accepted the purification offered and willingly answered God’s call.

            We hesitate to put ourselves in the position of these two prophets. We can readily list reasons God will not use us, but the truth is God is looking for willing servants. He is not interested in our excuses! He is well able to sanctify and empower us to answer the call. God wants to use you! The fourth step, is being devoted to God’s purpose.

Devoted – 1 Chronicles 22:19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord. (KJV)

            Building the sanctuary of the Lord has been transformed from a physical building. It is the knowledge that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. God has chosen each of us to respond to His calling. He is building us into a royal priesthood of all READY believers. The final step, allow the yearning for God’s Kingdom to grow within us. We need to hunger for the things of God.

Yearning – Romans 8:23-26 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (KJV)

            Our weakness, our lack, our inability is overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit! READY or NOT Christ is coming again! My prayer for all of us is that we be READY when He comes.

EASY

Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.’” (KJV)

Energy Allotted Satisfying Yourself

            It is probably true; each preceding generation says of the next, “They just don’t know how easy they have it.” Advancements in technology make our lives increasingly easy. Comfort and convenience are two very strong motivators, but have we stopped to examine the price we pay chasing the easy life?

            We spend vast amounts of time, energy and financial resources to ensure our comfort. We seem to measure our commitment to every task based upon the convenience of its accomplishment. We like things to be EASY. When events in our lives do not seem to run as smoothly as we plan we question every aspect of our lives, usually arriving at some level of doubt and disbelief.

            Where are you right now? The question is not reflective of your physical location. It seeks to expose your spiritual position and state of being. Personally I’m facing the most difficult challenges of my life. Crises in my Pastoral Ministry, aging parents with all the “joys” of declining health, and career confrontations as an educator in the public school system, all converge to create huge stress in my life. Oh, how I wish life could be EASY. The sheer pleasure of Energy Allotted Satisfying Yourself is not without appeal. Strangely, that attraction is in direct opposition to following Christ. He says, “deny” –– NOT “satisfy yourself”.

            The conflict between discipleship and the EASY life drives us toward deeper dependence upon God and a feverish search of His Word. Or, it pulls us into an ever-increasing spiral of destruction. Most often we look for answers that will eliminate our discomfort, but the situations we face are not new problems. Everyone — Prophets, Kings, Priests, and common people throughout history have all wrestled with denying their desire for what is EASY and had to balance the demands of natural life with spiritual life. These verses from Isaiah may help us understand and apply God’s answer to our dilemma. (Isaiah 49:3-4)

            We search for destiny and purpose. God answers our questions with a reminder that He is Master of our destiny. He is using our lives to bring glory to His Name. We make the counter point that all our hard work and sacrifice is worthless. We do not see the value in anything we have done, yet we begin to accept that God is keeping score –– not us. He will reward faithful service. Depression and disillusion is a common problem in contemporary society. In my opinion, it is worsened by the need for instant gratification, but God in His love holds the solution.

            God is aware of everything that is going on in our lives and He will be glorified. What we have done to advance the Kingdom Of God is the only thing that will ultimately matter. Do not derail your life by accepting what comes EASY. Energy Allotted Satisfying Yourself will not bring about the glory of God and cannot result in a Crown of Life. The cosmic clock is ticking away and time is at an end. Jesus is coming and He is coming soon. The popularity or lack of popularity the message holds does not enhance nor diminish its truth. We are not qualified to judge our own lives. Our perceptions and expectations color our judgment, but scripture says: (Revelation 22:12)

            Faithfulness, commitment, and persistence in service are to be valued and God will both honor and reward them in us. We must overcome the tendency to go with the flow and accept the path of least resistance. Often we measure our success or failure by our evaluation of the lives of others. We mistakenly believe God ignores our need.

            Whatever you are facing rest assured God knows all about it. Financial distress does not shock God. Physical illness and disease cannot scare Him. Emotional entanglements do not confuse Him. He does not have favorites. He does not have a switchboard operator saying, “Please stay on the line and your call will be answered in the order it was received.”  (Romans 6:12-13)

            God is not indifferent to your need. He will answer it in the way that allows the maximum glory to be given to His Name. When we seek the EASY way we run headlong down the path of sin. Energy Allotted Satisfying Yourself denies the Lordship of Christ and allows us to slide into the wickedness that is a sign of the times in which we live. However, sin is not new and wickedness has been around since the dawn of time –– no doubt it will continue until the end. In fact, it has been the catalyst responsible for divine judgment on more than one occasion during recorded history. (Genesis 6:5)

            The EASY road leads to judgment. First Satan was cast out of heaven for attempting to exult himself above God. Then Satan began his long campaign to corrupt mankind. Adam was influenced and took the EASY way. God judged mankind for Adam’s sin of disobedience. Cain took the EASY way and allowed jealousy to become murder. God judged Cain and he became a marked man. Sin increased and the world was purged of wickedness by a catastrophic flood, and still we gravitate toward what is EASY. Energy Allotted Satisfying Yourself will lead to destruction. The cities on the plain were destroyed for sexual sin and drunkenness. The vast and varied languages of the world were created as a result of a man’s desire to exult his throne and bring himself to God’s level.

  

            The antidote to the problem of sin is committing our lives to Christ. Remembering where we started this conversation, Jesus calls upon us to follow Him by denying ourselves. Once we make that commitment we no longer fall under the condemnation of sin; however, we have a daily struggle to overcome the pull of the EASY way. (Romans 8:1-3)

            Living according to the Spirit is not a once-and-for-all magic transformation. It is a daily choice to accept the grace of God, follow His plan for your life, and allow His Lordship to override your desire for comfort and convenience. The righteous requirements of a godly life do not vaccinate us from difficulties. They simply equip us to face them with faith, hope, and perseverance. Energy Allotted Satisfying Yourself leads directly to an eternity of suffering and separation from God. Spending time in the study of the Word of God, fellowship of believers, and heartfelt worship leads to joy, fulfillment and life everlasting. I know on which road I want to be.

REAL

2Chronicles 29:26 “And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.” (KJV)

Reliable Energetic Anointed Leaders

            Modern life pulls and twists us in so many directions at the same time that it feels we are in a perpetual game of twister. You remember twister that game which was played on a mat with colored spots, a spinner and a group of people all trying to accomplish the task of putting their hands and feet on the colored spots which were called without falling down. “Right hand blue, left foot red, left hand yellow, right foot green” — well I was always the first to fall down. Life in a bizarre turn of events resembles that game. We always seem to be chasing some impossible dream, but as Christians we need to be reliable, trustworthy, dependable and sure-footed. The apostle Paul instructed Timothy to avoid worldly pursuits.

            It is that avoidance that allows us to demonstrate reliability to a lost and dying world. Chasing success in this world leaves us empty and most often undependable; on the other hand, chasing after God and the righteousness He offers gives us stability. Through the attributes God brings into our lives we become reliable witnesses of God’s glory and grace.   (1Timothy 6:11-12)

            In this world there is no shortage of broken promises. Everything is unreliable. At the most basic level of human interaction, marriage by the world’s standard, once an unbreakable covenant, is now an optional contractual relationship. Everything from career choice to product warranties leaves us empty, hurt, and searching. God is inviting us to be REAL — Reliable Energetic Anointed Leaders. God is the only one keeping promises today. Because of His promises we are able to be reliable. The promises become our source of energy and anointing. God supplies all that we need according to His purposes. (2Corinthians 1:20-22)

            Authentic exercise and expression of our faith demands that we live up to the standard set in God’s word. Our lives should reflect what we believe. One key element in a life that is pleasing to God is reliability. The Pastoral Epistles, 1st and 2nd Timothy along with Titus, repeat the phrase, “This is a trustworthy saying” over and over as the Apostle Paul offers practical advice on living to please God. Today more than ever we (the church) run the risk of too close an association with the world. Are there any REAL Christians?

            Reliable Energetic Anointed Leaders are produced by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. God calls men and women, boys and girls, young and old to an encounter with Him. There is a spiritual battle going on all around us. Yet, we with increasing regularity heed not the warnings and walk starry-eyed down the wide road that leads to hell. Under the banner of tolerance and political correctness we turn a blind eye to sin and fall deeper and deeper in love with the world. Here is the warning, let it ring loud and clear in your ears and penetrate deep into your heart: (1John 2:15)

            Do we sing “We’ve Got The Power In The Name Of Jesus” and secretly ask ourselves where did it go? Is it any wonder the Church has lost its ability to be the agent of change in this world? The power of God, the truth of Hs word, the anointing that sets the captive free is invested in the messenger with the right message. Satan has brought the battle to us and we missed the battle cry. (1Corinthians 14:8)

            It is time to face the truth. We as a church have lost some battles. We as the people of God have missed the mark a time or two. It is time to repent and get REAL with God. Today become the Reliable Energetic Anointed Leaders God has called us to be. We know the power of God. We’ve walked under His anointing, but somehow we’ve been distracted somewhere and we’ve taken our eyes off Jesus. The hope we have is still alive. The fire of our faith has not been snuffed out. We just need some practical advice on how to be REAL.

            Recently, I told a friend, “I’m definitely not Jesus, and I have no desire to be Moses, but once in a while I’d still like to be Peter.” After mulling that statement over in my mind, I understand why I admire Peter so much. He was a man who made bold attempts because of his faith. He made a royal mess of things a time or two, but when he finally got it right, he was a man under a tremendous anointing. He is the one who can tell us how to get REAL.  He was a Reliable Energetic Anointed Leader and a precious piece of his advice can be found in 1 Peter chapter 3 verses 15 and 16.

            Re-establishing the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives, securing our grasp on the hope of heaven, as well as exercising both gentleness and respect as we deal with others are the three actions that enable us to be REAL Christians. These three actions working together in us strengthen our resolve to stand firm in the Lord and they will silence all the malicious talk against the body of Christ. They (the world) will become ashamed of their slander against the Church as we press on following the instructions of Solomon, who teaches us to continue our work while we are living. (Ecclesiastes 9:10-11)

            We do not usually focus our attention on the second half of verse 10 but the truth is if God holds off the coming of the Lord long enough we will all fall into the long sleep of death. If our message is going to be Reliable we must live what we say we believe. Focusing our attention upon what we can accomplish with the strength the Lord supplies to us, forces us to be Energetic. Actively exercising the authority Christ has given us, by definition makes us Anointed. Stepping out in faith, realizing that God is in control within every situation, and offering clear Godly alternatives in our lifestyle that people can follow makes us Leaders. Being REAL sometimes makes us a target. That is why we are given this warning. (1Corinthians 16:13-14)

            Problems in life seem to attack us without warning, but God does not want us to be taken by surprise.  First Corinthians chapter 16 verses 13 and 14 encourage us to take five actions that prepare us for victory in every circumstance. 1) Watch out! The enemy is real and he is looking for any weakness or any distracted moment to strike. 2) Stand in faith. In order to see the victory God has promised we must be able to stand in faith. Many times belief in God’s promises is all we have. The strength of our resolve and the force of the commitment we have made, to the cause of Christ, enable the Spirit of God to work in our lives for His glory. 3) Be courageous! No victory has ever been won without courage. The willingness to step, out into the unknown, faith in the promise, and the strength to take action, each work together to build up courage within us. If we do not lose heart, we will see victory. 4) Be strong. There is no easy road into destiny. Beyond the point of our faith and past our initial courage to step out into the fulfillment of our calling, our resolve will be tested. The warning to be strong says, “This will take time! There are no instant winners.” The final element that insures victory is love. 5) Take Action because of love! REAL Christians, Reliable Energetic Anointed Leaders, do what they do because of the love of God. Love is the driving force within our faith. Without love there is no desire to take action and any action taken lacks the power to bring about change in our lives.

            Love is both the reason for action and the power behind the anointing. The result is preaching a life-changing message with hope and conviction. As children, most of us played the game of hide and seek. Do you remember the last line the seeker would say before beginning the search? “Ready or not here I come!” Ready or not the world is coming to the Church for answers. They need to find REAL Christians, Reliable Energetic Anointed Leaders, who are not afraid to share their faith and the reasons for the hope we have in Christ. (2Timothy 4:2)

            Preaching the Word will change lives. Being ready at all times to correct, rebuke and encourage requires great patience. Careful instruction in righteousness is not an easy task. The goal of our preaching is building up of the body of Christ. (Titus 3:14)

            Building a community of faith that leads productive lives in today’s society seems to be increasingly difficult.  It can only be accomplished through the anointing. No matter who you are, or how long you have been a Christian, God is calling us to be REAL — Reliable Energetic Anointed Leaders. (1John 2:27-29)